Coke-oven



Dec. 25 1923. 1,478,570

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COKE OVEN Filed March 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 25, 1923. Lfifiifi T. G. was

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COKE OVEN Dec. 25, 1923.

Filed March 8. 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 NM MNN Patented Dec. 25, 1923.

THOMAS e. nus, or cnrcaeo, ILLINDIS,

PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR', BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

CHICAGO TRUST COER'IPANY, TRUSTEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION.

COKE OVEN.

Application filed March 8, 1920. Serial No. 364,109.

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that l. THOMAS G. lies, a citizen of the United titates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coke Ovens and the like, of' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in coke ovens and the like. The invention relates to the construction of the heating walls, arrangements for introducing the combustible gases thereinto, and the means for recovering waste heat from the spent gases or products of combustion. The invention also relates to various features of construction of a mechanical nature, such as the form of the blocks used in building up the heating walls, the construction of the various ports whereby certain of the combustible gases are intro-,

duced, as well as other features.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the constructions and arrangements particularly illustrated in the drawings, I will first mention certain of the operating conditions and results which it is desired to secure in the operation of these structures.

The ability to secure a substantially uniform heating effect in different portions of the oven, or at any rate the ability to con-- trol the temperature at different portions of the oven and to control the delivery of the quantity ot heat in each portion of the oven, is very important from the standpoint of ability to coke certain classes of coal and from the standpoint of the production of the highest quality of coke and the best yield of by'products. It is well understood that as the heating gases travel through the passagesof the heating walls they give up a portion of their heat with corresponding drop of temperature. The result is that the tendency for the fiow of heat from the gases into the wall structure decreases in the direction of gas flow, unless provision is made for compensating for the reduced temperature. This compensation may be effected in various ways, including modification of the gas passages themselves in the different portions of the wall, and including reinforcement of the combustion by introducing additional constituents of combustion in different portions of the structure.

One of the features of the present invention relates to an improved type of construction in which the heating effect is regulated or modified or improved by the introduction of supplemental constituents of combustion into the passages in different portions of the wall. In those cases in which the heating gases travel through the passages always in the same direction the temperature gradient will always lie in the same direction along the structure; but in those structures in which there is a reversal of direction of gas flow through the passages the temperature gradientwill first lie in one direction along the structure, and then in the other direction, reversing direction periodically. One of the features of the present: invention is to provide, in structures of this type, an arrangement for reinforcing the heating action, after the heating gases have partially traversed their heating passages, by the introduction of a supplemental portion or quantity of combustible constituent. In this way the total temperature gradient from the point of initial combustion to the point of final deliv cry from the heating walls will be reduced to a minimum.

It may also be observed at this point that in those cases in which the flow of heating gases through the heating passages is periodically reversed, with consequent reversal of temperature gradient, there is a portion or zone near the central portion of the heating passages in which the variations of temperature are a minimum; during one-half of the cycle the temperature on one side of said portion or zone is higher, and the temperature on the other side of said portion or zone is lower, than the temperature of said portion or zone itself; and during the other half of the cycle the conditions are reversed. If the reinforcement of combustion be effected by introduction of additional combustible constituent in this portion or zone where the fluctuation or variation of ten'iperature is naturally a minimum, it will be possible to secure an over-all operation during the entire heating cycle of such nature as to give the most uniform and constant operation.

Another feature of the invention has to do with the provision, in structures of the foregoing type, of an arrangement whereby the supplemental or additional combustible constituent may be introduced in fairly con stant manner during the entire operation of the oven, the flow of heating gases being periodically reversed so that said flow takes place alternately back and forth across the position of introduction of said supplementary constituent. In this connection another feature of the invention is to make provision for introduction of said supplementary constituent in the intermediate or central portion of the length or height of the heating wall, the heating gases flowing through said wall either from side to side or from top to bottom alternately in opposite directions, while maintaining a substantially constant introduction of supplemental constituent in the central portion of the wall.

Another feature of the invention has to do with the provision, in coke oven structures, of separate or individual regenerator units so located with respect to the heating walls and remainder of the structure as to make it possible to secure the heat recovery and preheating action during all portions of the operation in a very direct manner. In this connection another feature of the invention has to do with the relating of the various regenerator structures with the heating walls and other portions of the structure in such a manner that very direct and relatively short connections may be secured, notwithstanding the fact that on certain portions of the operating cycle it is necessary to deliver the preheated air int-o the top portion of the heating walls.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same, which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows a vertical cross-section through an oven chamber and the adjacent heating walls and regenerator structure taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section corresponding to F ig. 1 but taken on the line 22 of F 1g. 4:, look ng in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary central section through the carbonlzing chamber and regenerator structure, being taken on the line -3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4: shows a fragmentary central vertical section through one of the heating walls and the adjoining regenerator structure, being taken on the line 4l 1 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fi 5 shows a fragmentary central vertical section taken through one of the intermediate or partition walls of the structure, being taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figs. 6, T, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are fragmentary horizontal sections taken on the lines 66, 77, 88, 99, 1010, 1111, 1212 and 1313 of Figs 1, 2, i and 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

I will first state that in the particular arrangen'ient illustrated in the drawings I have shown a carbonizing chamber 20 and portions of the adjoining chambers 21 and 22. I have also shown the features of the present invention as being incorporated within that type of structure in which each carbonizing chamber is provided with its own heating walls, designated 23 and 24, respectively. However, as to this feature, I wish it clearly understood that in some cases it is not necessary to employ the features of the present invention in this individual heating wall type of construction, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to their application in such type of construction except as I may do so in the claims.

I will also point out at this time that in the construction illustrated in the drawings there is provided a partition wall 25 between the adjoining heating walls of consecutive ovens. l/Vhile such partition wall, when so used, serves as a convenient means for the provision of certain of the passages, it is .not necessary to use such partition wall for the practice of the features of the present invention, which are therefore not imited to its presence except as called for in the claims.

Each heating wall is shown as being built up from a series of notched blocks 26 laid in consecutive horizontal courses which break joints, these blocks being so notched in their various faces that when set together they provide on the interior of the wall a series of more or less interconnected pa."- sages extending through the wall in a zigzag fashion. This construction is similar to that disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,132,685, issued to Arthur Roberts under date of March 23, 1915, and is also similar to the general type of construction shown in certain other Letters Patent. While it constitutes a very convenient type of construction, within which to apply the features of the present invention, and, as will be presently pointed out, may be very conveniently woven into or incorporated with the features of the present invention, still I do not limit myself to the use of this type of wall construction except as I may do so in the claims.

I will mention at this point, however, that the notched block type 0t construction just above referred to as illustrated in the present case is modified in some respects so as to more readily incorporate it with the reversal of the flow of gases presently to be explained, so that the heat abstracting tendency of the structure is more or less equalized for the flow oi gases in both directions.

Adjacent the lower portion of each heating wall there is provided a fuel gas or combustible gas passage 27, which communicates by a series of vertical risers 23 with nozzles 29 adapted to deliver combustible gas upwardly into the lower portion of the passages of the corresponding heating wall. By introducing combustible gas through the end connection 30 into the passage 27 all of the initial nozzles 29 of the corresponding heating wall will be supplied with gas. An endinspection opening or port 31 is located in alignment with the nozzles 29, or certain of them, so that they can be inspected or replaced through said port.

Reference particularly to Fig. 2 will show that the lower portions of the combustible gas passages of each heating wall are connected by means or a series of ports 32 with a sole passage 33 located beneath the sole of the corresponding oven. So that by introducing air for combustion through said sole passage in proper quantities the combustible gas from the lower nozzles 29 of both of the corresponding heating walls will be burned. The products of combustion thus generated will rise through the heating walls to their upper portions, where suitable connections are provided for removing them.

In the upper portion of each. heating wall there located a series of downwardly facing nozzles 34, which may be supplied with combustible gas through the passages 35 from the upper portion of. the structur Adjacent to each of the nozzles 34 is a pair of downwardly extending passages 36, which passages communicate with chamber 37 above the heating walls. The chambers 3T, in turn, communicate by means of cross connections 38 with rising passages 39.lo cated in the adjoining partition walls. Consequently, by delivering air upwardly through the passages 39 the same will flow sidcwise through the connections 38 and thence downwardly through the passages 36 for the combustion of gas introduced through the nozzles 34:. It will be observed particularly from Figs. 1 and 4: that beneath each of the nozzles 34 is a somewhat en larged chamber 40, within which the combustible gas and air from the corresponding nozzles 3st and corresponding pair of passages 36 may commingle, and within which the combustion may commence in an et tective manner. The chambers 40, when used, therefore constitute combustion chambers, although their presence and use may in many cases be dispensed with.

t is also to be observed that the passages 37 extend upwardly to the upper portion of the structure and are so formed and located that the passages 36 and adjoining structure may be conveniently inspected through them. It will also be noted that above each of the passages 36 is a damper block 41, which damper blocks may be shitted back and forth by the use of suitable tools or implements extended down through the inspection ports 37, so that said ports may therefore be used in the adjustment of the dampers 41 to secure the proper flow of air corresponding to the combustion which is to take place with gas from the nozzles 34.

The risers 39, previously mentioned, have their lower ends in communication with suitable passages in the lower portion of the structure, and ordinarily said lower ends will communicate with channels 4:2 extend ing lengthwise of the partition walls.

From the construction thus far described it will be evident that there is provided on each of two opposite edges of the wall, in this case the upper and lower edges, suitable connections t'or delivering both of the combustible constituents on such edge. In this way it is possible to commence the combustion process on either the top or bottom edge of the wall, depending upon the moi'nentary direction of flow of gases through the wall. Naturally, when the combustion commences on one edge the products of combustion should be removed at the other edge. Therefore, the passages 39 will be alternately used for the supply ol. air to the upper edge of the wall or for the removal of spent gas from said upper edge; and, in like manner, the sole passages will be alternately used for the removal of spent gas from, or the supply of air for combustion to, the lower edges of its walls. The operations in these passages take place in reverse order. As the air for combustion is rising through the passages 39 from the channels 42, the spent gas is being removed through the sole passages and at a later time, as the air for coml'iustion is introduced through said sole passages, the spent gases will be removed through the passages 39 and channels 4-2.

In those cases in which it is desired to conserve a portion of the waste heat of the spent gases this may be done by the use of regenerators, recuperators, or any other suitable structure. In the present case I have illustrated a series of regenerators in the lower portionof the structure, and will now explain the same in detail. Beneath each of the central wall structures is located a regenerator structure 43, and beneath each carbonizing chamber is located a regenerator structure 44. As shown particularly in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, these various regenerator structures are, in turn, subdivided into a series of sections for a purpose to be presently explained, but in action and in operation they will usually be treated as a group.

Leading into the top of each regenera'tor 43 is a series of passages 45 communicating .with the channel 42 above them; and leading into each of the regenerators 44 is a series of passages 46 communicating with the sole passage 33 above them. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5 in particular, damper blocks 47 may be provided for controlling the passages 45, and damper blocks 48 may be provided for controlling the passages 46. These damper blocks may be permanently set in each oven, or may be independently adjusted from time to time as needed. For the latter purpose, adjustment openings 49 and 50 may be provided in alignment with the damper blocks 47 and 48, respectively, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Beneath each regenerator structure 43 is a channel 51 and beneath each regenerator structure 44 is a channel 52. Means not shown in the drawings are provided for intermittently admitting air for combustion simultaneously tothe various channels 51 and for simultaneously removing the prodnets of combustion from the channels 52; and for thereafter reversing the operation. In this way the necessary flow of air and products of combustion is secured.

With the construction so far described, the flow of products of combustion back and forth, up and down, through the heating walls will be effected without any reinforcement of the combustion during such flow, and therefore the variations of temperature will be similar in amount to those which would be expected in such an arrangement. In those cases in which it is desired to secure a more even temperature throughout the structure, this may be done by the introduction of a combustlble constituent within the heating walls at a point intermediate the place where combustion commences and the place where the products of'combustion are removed. Such an arrangement is illustrated in the drawings. It includes a series of supplemental burners or nozzles 53 located along the central portion of each heating wall 23, and another series of such burners or nozzles 54 located along the central portion of each heating wall 24. The nozzles or burners 53 and 54 communicate with down-comers 55 located in the central portion of the wall structure and conveniently within the partition wall. These down-comers carry combustible gas to their respective nozzles, where said gas enters the passages of the heating walls and commingles with the mixture already present therein.

Manifestly, by so adjusting the operation of the upper and lower sets of burners or nozzles and the supply of air thereto, it will be possible to obtain an excessof air, as compared to gas, in all portions of the operating cycle, so that there will always be a portion of unconsumed oxygen leaving the upper and lower sets of nozzles or burners and flowing through the central portion of the walls. The supplemental gas so introduced through the nozzles 53 and 54 will unite with this excess or unconsumed portion of oxygen and burn, thereby generating additional heat units. Ordinarily it will be found advisable to initially introduce 100 per cent of air and approximately per cent of gas, necessary for its combustion, the remaining portion of 40 per cent of gas being introduced in the central portions of the walls by means of the su plemental burners or nozzles.

anifestly, the supplemental burners or nozzles may be kept continuously in opera tion with a substantially fixed setting of valves, the flow of heating gases through the walls being alternately up and down past the supplemental nozzles. By this arrangement the operation of the structure is greatly simplified, since it is unnecessary to change the setting of the valves for the supplemental valves or nozzles durin'g many hours of operation of the structure.

As a convenient means for controlling the upper nozzles and the intermediate nozzles or burners, I have illustrated a series of pipes, four in number, numbered respec tively 55, 56, 57 and 58, above each set of heating walls and passages. hen used, the pipes 55 and 56 will supply gas, respectively, to the upper burners and to the supplemental burners of the wall 24 beneath them, and the pipes 57 and 58 will similarly supply gas to the upper burners and to the supplemental burners of the wall 23 beneath them. As previously explained, the connections 30 may be provided for supplying gas to the various burners in the lower portions of the walls. If it should ever be desirable to remove deposited carbon from any of the passages 55 which extend down to the supplemental burners, this may be easily done by introducing air through the proper pipes 56 and 57 for a short period of time, until said air will burn out the deposited carbon by reason of the relatively high temperature existing within the structure.

It is observed, particularly from examination of Figs. 1 and 2, that between the various groups of regenerator elements are the partition walls 59 and 60. These partition walls are located within the foundation beneath their respective heating walls, and

they serve to provide the regenerator chambers, as well as to sustain the wall structure above them. Their upper ends are relatively flared or widened at 61 and 62, so as to better take the loads of the carbonizing chambers and of the partition walls, but the partition walls themselves directly sustain the relatively large weights of the heating walls above them.

Again referring to the notched block construction shown particularly in Fig. t, it will be observed that both the upper and lower edges of the bloclzs are beveled or ta pered. By the use of this arrangement the flow of gases both upwards and downwards through the walls is equalized, since the resistance to flow in both directions is thus made more uniform. It will also be observed that the blocks from which the heating walls are constructed are so formed that a series of vertical separators or partitions 61 and 62 is provided within each heating wall, said separators when used establishing a series of vertical, more or less separated and independent, zones for the flow of gases through the heating wall. In connection with this feature it is mentioned that the ability of the combustible heating gases to transfer lengthwise of the heating walls is thus controlled so as to prevent the possibility of said gases accumulating in greater degree in some portions of the walls than in others, thus eliminating what may be termed channeling of the gases and insuring a more uniform distribution of the heating effect. This feature should be noted in connection with the fact that each of the regenerators is illustrated. as comprising a series of units, and the entire arrangement is such that the flow of gases and air throughout the entire length of the oven is considerably improved.

I claim:

1. In a retort coke oven, the combination of a series of individual heating walls in pairs, each pair being separated to provide between them a carbonizing chamber, a partition wall between the adjacent heating walls of each group of pairs, aregenerator beneath each carbonizing chamber, another regenerator beneath each partition wall, there being a series of vertically communieating passages within each heating wall for the transfer of heating gases in a vertica. direction, a series of burner nozzles located throughout the length of the bottom portion of each heating wall, another series of burner nozzles located throughout the length of the top portion of each heating wall, a series of supplemental burner nozzles located throughout the length of the central portion of each heating wall, connections for the delivery of combustible gas independently of each of said groups of burner nozzles, connections from the lower portion of the passages of each heating wall to the adjoining regenerator chamber located beneath the carbonizing chamber and connec tions from the passages in the upper portion of each heating wall to the regenerator chamber beneath the adjoining partition wall, and means for selectively admitting air to or removing spent gas from alternate groups of regenerators, substantially as described.

2. In a retort coke oven the combination of a series of individual heating walls in pairs, each pair being separated to provide between them a carbonizing chamber, a partition wall between the adjacent heating walls of each group of pairs, at regenerator beneath each carbonizing chamber, another regenerator beneath each partition wall, there being a series of vertically communicating passages within each heating wall for the transfer of heating gases in a vertical direction, a series of humor nozzles located throughout the length of the bottom portion of each heating wall, another series of burner nozzles located throughout the length of the top portion of each heating wall, a series of supplemental burner nozzles located throughout the length of the central portion of each heating wall, connections for the delivery of combustible gas independently to each of said group of burner nozzles, connections from the upper and lower portions of the passages of each heating wall to the various regenerators, and means for selectively admitting air to or removing spent gas from a regenerator, substantially as described.

3. In a retort coke oven, a series of individual heating ails. in pairs, each pair being separated to provide between them a carbonizing chamber, a partition wall between the adjacent heating walls oi? each group of pairs, regenerators beneath the carbonizing chambers and partition walls, there being a series of vertically communicating passages within each heating wall for the transfer of heating gases in a vertical direction, a series of burner nozzles located throughout the length of the bottom portion of each heating wall, another series of burner nozzles located throughout th length of the top portion of each heating wall, a series of supplemental burner nozzles located throughout the length of the central portion of each heating wall, connections for the delivery of combustible gas inclependently to each of said group of burner nozzles, connections from the upper and lower portionsof the passages of each heating wall to the regenerator chambers selectively, and means for selectively admitting air to or removing spent gas from alternate groups of regenerators, substantially as described 4. In a retort coke oven, a series of individualheating walls a pairs, each pair being separated to provide between them a carbonizing chamber, a partition wall between the adjacent heating walls of each group of pairs, regenerators beneath the carbonizing chambers and the partition walls, there being a series or vertically communicating passages within each heating wall for the transfer of heating gases in a Vertical direction, a series of burner nozzles located throughout the length of the bottom portion of each heating wall, another series of burn er nozzles located throughout the length ofthe top portion of each heating Wall, a series of supplemental burner nozzles located throughout the length of the central portion of each, heating wall, connections for the delivery of combustible gas independent ly to said groups of burner nozzles, and connections from the upper and lower portions of the passages of each heating wall to the regenerators, substantially as described.

5. In a retort coke oven, a series of individual heating walls in pairs, each pair being separated to provide between them a carbonizing chamber, a partition Wall between the adjacent heating walls of each group of pairs, regenerators corresponding to the heating walls, there being a series of vertically communicating passages within each heating wall for the transfer of heating gases in a vertical direction, a series of burner nozzles located throughout the length of the bottom portion of each heating wall, another series of burner nozzles located throughout the length of the top portion of each heating wall, a series of supplemental burner nozzles located throughout the length of the central portion of each heating wall, connections for the delivery of combustible gas independently to each of said groups of burner nozzles, and connections from the upper and lower portions of the passages of each heating wall to different regene-rators, substantially as described.

6. In a retort coke oven, the combination of a series of individual heating walls in pairs, each pair being separated to provide between them a carbonizing chamber, regenera-tors corresponding to the heating walls, there being a series of vertically communieating passages within each heating wall for the transfer of heating gases in a vertical direction, a series of burner nozzles located throughout the length of the bottom portion of each heating wall, another series of burner nozzles located throughout the length of the top portion of each heating wall, a series of supplemental burner nozzles located throughout the length of the central portion of each heating wall, connections for the delivery of combustible gas independently to each of said groups of burner nozzles, and connections from the upper and lower portions of the passages of each heating wall to different regenerators, substantially as described.

7. In a retort coke oven, the combination of a series of individual heating walls, re-

zles, and connections from the upper and lower portions of the passages of each heating wall to different regenerators, substantially as described.

8. In a retort coke oven, a heating wall having on its interior a series of vertically communicating passages for the transfer of heating gases in a vertical direction, a series of burner nozzles located throughout the length or" the bottom portion of the heating wall, another series of burner nozzles located throughout the length of the top portion of the heating wall, a series of supplemental burner nozzles located throughout the length of the mid portion of the heating Wall, means for delivering gas for combustion alternately to the upper and lower series of burner nozzles, and connections for selectively delivering air for combustion to or removing spent gas from the passages in the upper and lower portions of the heating wall, substantially as described.

9. In a retort coke oven, a heating wall having on its interior a meshwork of interconnected passages extending in zigzag fashion between two of its opposite edges, connections for the delivery of combustible constituents selectively to said edges, and connections for the delivery of one of the constituents of combustion constantly to the mid portions of said passages, substantially as described.

10. In a retort coke oven, a heating wall having on its interior a series of inter-communicating passages extending in zigzag fashion between two of its opposite edges, means for delivering air for combustion selectively to the passages adjacent to said edges, means for simultaneously delivering a deficient quantity of fuel gas-to the passages adjacent to said edge, and means for continuously delivering fuel gas into the mid portions of the passages in amount sufficient to compensate for such deficiency, substantially as described.

11., A heating wall for a coke oven or the like, comprising a series of blocks laid up in courses, each block being centrally recessed in its side portions and the end portions of the blocks being in contact with each other, the blocks in successive courses breaking joints and the upper and lower faces of the blocks being tapered, whereby there is provided on the interior of the wall a meshwork of inter-connected passages extending in zigzag fashion between the upper and lower portions of the wall and whereby each block presents a beveled or tapered face to the gases flowing past it in either direction, substantially as described.

12. A coke oven heating wall, comprising a series of blocks laid up in couises, the blocks of each course breaking joints with the blocks of the courses above and below it, the adjoining blocks being suitably formed for the provision of a series of inter-connected passages extending through the wall in zigzag fashion between two of its edges, the upper and lower faces of the blocks being tapered or beveled for the presentation of tapered or beveled faces to the gases flowing in either direction through the wall, 25

substantially as described.

THOMAS G. KUS. 

